portable storage

Wed Dec 5 17:57:12 UTC 2007

Thank you for this straightforward advice about standards, Aidan, and  
the rest that you advised.

I conclude from your deswcriptions and others provided by list  
memers, that for simple storage in the field, there is no inherent  
advantage to any particular hardware. Since an 8 gig card in the Zoom  
H2 Handy recorder will hold over a dozen hours of recording, which  
may be all that I'd record in a week, I think that I will equip  
myself with is a small supply of such cards for the H2. The H2 uses  
AA batteries, so power is no issue with it in my context.

The one feature of the iPod that remains viable for my context is  
that it is a portable playback unit, once the files are in MP3  
format, I assume. I have to have some portable way of playing back  
selected files in the field. Something I can carry through rainy  
weather and set up indoors or outdoors.

But other MP3 players seem to be much cheaper (and more so all the  
time), and hence relatively disposable should they get dropped in the  
sand or whatever. Maybe it's just a question of finding a model that  
is not too fiddly.

On 2-Dec-07, at 4:38 pm, Aidan Wilson wrote:
>> Record in wav format, at least with 44.1 kHz sample rate and 16  
>> bit resolution, it'll take ...about 10 MB per minute... it's  
>> archive standard...It's also the format used for long-term  
>> storage ...
>>
>> Aidan Wilson
>> Audio at Paradisec
>>

On 2-Dec-07, at 4:38 pm, Aidan Wilson wrote:

> Sorry, I meant to send this to the list. Perhaps a 'reply-to:'  
> field with the rnld address should be included in the list's messages?
>
> Aidan Wilson wrote:
>> There are portable hard drives that operate on AA batteries that  
>> basically take everything off a device through a USB connection,  
>> that is, it doesn't need a computer to do the transfer, which can  
>> be a real bonus out in the field. Later on of course, you should  
>> get to a computer to make actual backups.
>> The iPod isn't such a bad idea, besides the card reader  
>> accessories, there are USB transfer accessories that do pretty  
>> much the same thing. But when it gets ingested into the iPod, you  
>> won't be able to play it normally (if you use apple's default iPod  
>> operating system, that is) since you have to upload songs and  
>> photos via iTunes to do that. So it'll work just like a backup  
>> hard drive.
>> The problem with the ipod though, is that the battery isn't field- 
>> swappable, and you'll need a computer, or a DC-to-USB adapter, to  
>> charge it if you want to use it for more than about 6 hours.
>> Something else to think about regarding formats; please don't  
>> record to mp3 format. Record in wav format, at least with 44.1 kHz  
>> sample rate and 16 bit resolution, it'll take a little more data  
>> space (about 10 MB per minute), but the resulting quality compared  
>> with mp3, and the fact that it's archive standard, make up for the  
>> space needed. It's also the format used for long-term storage and,  
>> provided you either have the recordings archived in an institution  
>> or are vigilant enough to periodically check your backups, the  
>> recordings should last for as long as you want.
>>
>> Aidan Wilson
>> Audio at Paradisec
>>
>> Naomi Elizabeth-Palosaari Fox wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>  I had considered the same question a few months ago. I am using  
>>> my Ipod for backup storage in the field and have no problems to  
>>> report. The reason I wanted to do this was because you can get a  
>>> Memory Card reader which will directly transfer files from memory  
>>> cards to the IPOD without needing a computer.
>>>  http://www.ipoding.com/modules.php? 
>>> op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1510 <http:// 
>>> www.ipoding.com/modules.php? 
>>> op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1510>
>>>  I assumed that the card reader would work with any kind of file.  
>>> However, I could not actually get the reader to work with my  
>>> Ipod, although I4m yet not sure if that4s because of the file  
>>> type or because I had received a faulty unit. They are difficult  
>>> to find and I had to order online. If anyone has had any success  
>>> in finding a way to store and upload audio files from a solid  
>>> state recorder, I4d love to hear about it.
>>>  By the way, I4m very satisified with my primary mobile storage  
>>> device, a Western Digital 160G portable hard drive, small and  
>>> easy to transport.  There are bigger capacities available.
>>> http://www.buy.com/prod/western-digital-passport-160gb-usb-2-0- 
>>> portable-2-5-external-hard-drive/q/loc/101/203169718.html
>>>   --Naomi
>>> ____________________________________
>>> Naomi Fox
>>>
>>> Center For American Indian Languages
>>>
>>> University of Utah
>>>
>>> naomi.fox at utah.edu <mailto:naomi.fox at utah.edu>
>>>
>>>
>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>>> ----
>>> *De:* Terry J. Klokeid [mailto:klokeid at victoria.tc.ca]
>>> *Enviado el:* sab 12/1/2007 10:59
>>> *Para:* RNLD List
>>> *Asunto:* portable storage
>>>
>>> I am looking for portable storage for voice recordings.
>>>
>>> Our project has just purchased some Zoom H2 Handy Recorders to  
>>> make voice recordings, mainly in field conditions, not studio  
>>> conditions. Our tests of a unit before purchase indicated that H2  
>>> recordings are of suitable quality. The portability and ability  
>>> to record without an AC power source and without a computer will  
>>> suit our conditions.
>>> The H2 records onto SD cards. Our ultimate aim is to put  
>>> selections onto CDs and MP3 players for distribution. To  
>>> accomplish this, the recordings will be passed around to several  
>>> computer setups. (We use a variety of computers. The one I use  
>>> most is a G4 Powerbook, OS 10.4.11, but the project membership  
>>> uses both Macintosh and Windows machines of varying vintage.)
>>>
>>>  What is the best way to store the voice recordings long-term? I  
>>> have thought of the iPod, because: 1. it has ample capacity, I  
>>> think 180 gigs, 2. it is portable and runs on battery power, 3.  
>>> the recordings can be played back without the presence of the H2  
>>> or a computer, for example taking it to someone's living room for  
>>> review, or playing back on the beach (for place names and such).
>>>
>>> Or is the iPod not feasible?
>>> I am still unfamiliar with formats for digital storage, so there  
>>> are undoubtedly issues I am unaware of.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>